Tulum Airport Access Road Planned

The Mexican government has started planning for a new road around Tulum that will give access to the new Tulum airport, reported local newspaper, El Quintanarroense, last week.

The Secretariat for Communications and Transport (SCT) has begun topographical work and aerial photographic surveys, said the Mexican daily.

In a separate radio interview on Friday, Juan Molinar Horcaditas, head of the SCT, said, "In a question of weeks we are going to start the tendering process for the Riviera Maya airport, I wouldn't say if it will be in one or in ten [weeks], but we are in the final phases of the imminent bidding release process."

The SCT said previously that consortia interested in the contract for the new Riviera Maya airport must tender proposals combining airport concessions, terminal construction and new access routes.

El Quintanarroense said official figures suggest the new road will start some 8 miles (13km) north of Tulum and finish around 7 miles (11km) south of the town. Its course will take it inland towards the city of Felipe Carrillo Puerto and it is expected to be approximately 16 miles (25km) long overall. The road itself will be about 66 yards (60m) wide.

At the moment the government is working on the planning the new route, but later they will need to acquire the land necessary for its construction, said the paper. This may involve buying Tulum real estate from private owners and paying compensation.

The new Tulum airport will be able to handle 700,000 passengers in its first year, increasing to 3 million passengers within 5 years. The first phase of construction work is expected to cost $300 million.

Last month the Mexican government was promoting the investment opportunity to tender for the airport to businesses in South Korea and this month it was also presented to investors at a conference in New York.

It's hoped by many locally in the Riviera Maya that the new Tulum airport will be a major boost for the economy and lead to a major new phase in the area's development. Heavy public investment in the zone has already had an effect on the price of Tulum property and overseas real estate companies are rushing to develop new projects along the coast nearby.

Visit our destinations pages to find out more about Tulum real estate and the new Tulum airport.

Cozumel Real Estate To Welcome Home Peace Voyage

After successfully crossing the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea to reach her destination in Greece, the "peace ship" Zamná started her journey back to Cozumel again, last week.

The Cozumel real estate market is sure to give her a warm welcome home.

In August, the magnificent wooden trimaran set sail from Cozumel on a 4½ month sea voyage to Greece and back, via 15 ports in North America, Europe and Africa.

Vital Alsar Ramírez, a wise and much-honored Spanish sailor of 75 years, dreamed up the project in his adopted home in Veracruz, México.

The journey's purpose is beautifully simple: to take a child from the home of the great Mayan civilization in Mexico half-way across the world to deliver a message of peace to his kindred in Greece, cradle of another of the world's great civilizations.

Juan Pablo Tec Chim, the Mayan messenger from the Cozumel real estate market, thanked the crowd for their support in the Greek port of El Pireo, before the crew started its journey back to Cozumel under the watchful eye of Captain Alsar.

"We will not allow any more marginalization due to differences in race, language, thought, disabilities, religion or social status", Tec Chim said, "love, which is so missing in the world, should be transmitted so there are no conflicts between human beings."

The ship is a unique handcrafted wooden masterpiece, 110 feet (33.5m) long and boasting three masts, she was built by a team of 40 skilled ship makers in Veracruz.

Egyptian, Greek and Mexican influences are visible in the design and the windows are decorated with images that mimic Mayan art.

In a boost for Cozumel real estate, the island was declared as "Island of Peace" earlier this year due to its freedom from conflict since ancient Mayan times. Because of this honor, the island became a partner in Alsar's maritime project, now known as "The Child, the Sea and Peace".

Visit the destination pages on our website to learn more about the island and Cozumel real estate.

Mexico Invests $12 Billion In Gas Pipelines

Mexico's state owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos, known as Pemex, said earlier this month that there are plans to spend around $12 billion on upgrading its pipeline network.

Pemex Chief Executive, Juan Jose Suarez Coppel, said, "The transportation of hydrocarbons and their derivatives via pipelines continues to be the most efficient and safest option."

Suarez, formerly Chief Financial Officer of the state concern, was appointed Chief Executive in September. He criticized the oil giant's failure to modernize in recent years. The new Mexico investment plan involves $5.5 billion to build an additional 2,800 miles (4,500km) of pipelines, four storage terminals and 14 pumping stations, by 2015. Mexican pipelines carry crude oil, gas, refined products and petrochemicals.

Another $5.6 billion will be used over 10 years for maintenance of 29,200 miles (47,000km) of existing pipelines that have an average age of 25 years. The integration of automated pipeline systems among the oil company's four operating divisions is planned for completion in 2012. Suarez added this Mexico investment would cost another $1 billion.

The pipeline upgrade investment, he said, is part of a broader program to take advantage of last year's energy reforms that will help Pemex take steps to catch up with world-leading oil firms.

Cabo Team Wins Fishing Championship

The team representing Cabo at the World Championship Billfish Release Tournament in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, scored a massive eight marlin releases securing the top place overall on the final day of the 10th annual IGFA Offshore World Championship, earlier this month.

Many fishing fans are owners of Cabo real estate due to its proximity to great fishing waters and countless top fishing competitions.

For one Cabo San Lucas local, Oscar Daccarett, being a part of the Offshore World Champion team represents his largest accomplishment in offshore fishing and beats his previous best when he came second in the 2007 IGFA Offshore World Championship.

Daccarett said, "Winning the event is a dream come true. In my mind this is the most important tournament in the world. It's not about money; it's about fishing for the honour of being number one in the world."

He then went on to explain how this magnificent catch occurred, "We were 12 to 14 miles away from Cabo on the Pacific side, but just one mile offshore when we spotted marlin feeding on bait on the surface, we caught two on ballyhoo and six on live baits."

Team mates of Daccarett were Drew Andrews of Georgia, and Hernando Gonzalez, Jobe Villanicencio and Javier Villanicencio, all from Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. They won the tournament to qualify for the IGFA Offshore World Championship. Local knowledge helped win the event with 14 releases worth 4,200 points. Gonzalez caught 13 of the team's billfish to secure him the high-point angler award as well.

On the doorstep of the Cabo real estate market, the IGFA Offshore World Championship represents the largest international field of competitors in the world of offshore sport fishing. It attracted 43 teams from 19 countries globally including Australia, Tonga, Italy, Brazil and more. With such a vast number of teams, the Offshore World Championship has earned the title of the "Olympics" of offshore fishing. The 43 teams in the 10th annual IGFA Offshore World Championship released 53 marlin and one sailfish on the final day of fishing, bringing the four-day total to 197 billfish overall.

Visit our destination pages for information about Cabo real estate.

"Adios" To The Oldest Woman Living In Mexico

Mexico said a sad adios to Ana Maria Perez Gonzalez this week.

Perez had reached the grand age of 119 when she died, making her the oldest woman living in Mexico, and possibly the world.

She was buried in the community where she lived in La Cofradia de Juarez by the Mexican Riviera. 266 friends and family attended the ceremony to say their final farewells.

In July 2008, Perez Gonzales was recognized by Mexican President, Felipe Calderon, as Mexico's oldest woman and the Guinness Book of World Records was in the process of verifying her as the world's oldest woman as well.

Born on June 22, 1890, in the neighbouring state of Michoacan, Perez bore four children. Two of her offspring, Feliciano and Maria, have already passed away, but the other two, Socorro and Felicitas, are still alive.

The family spans 30 grandchildren, 122 great-grandchildren, 105 great-great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-great-grandchildren.

Mexico has a long history of record-breaking senior citizens and many US retirees argue that living in Mexico is healthier than staying at home.

Mexico World Aerospace Leader

The Mexican aerospace industry is leading the world in aerospace manufacture investments.

An aerospace globalization study recently published by Pro Mexico identifies the prestige of Mexican industry in the manufacture, maintenance, repair, engineering, design, education, airlines, airports and auxiliary services; generating £33 million US dollars during the 1990 – 2009 period, more than the USA, China, Russia and India.

Pro Mexico also said the aerospace industry is strategic for the national economy and it promotes it in Mexico and worldwide.

In the October 2009 closure period it boasted a portfolio of nine investment projects for over $1,291 million. Mexico has 190 companies established in the aerospace sector which in 2008 exported over $3 million and employed over 26,000 people.

Last year Pro Mexico added investments amounting to $1 million which highlights the recent announcements made by companies such as Bombardier, Cessna and Aeronova.

The air strategy places Mexico eighth place in the world for attracting investments in maintenance, supervision and repair of aircrafts thus competing with Germany, Malaysia and the United Kingdom.

Mexico Investment Grade Maintained

The new fiscal package planned by the Mexican government this week helped Mexico maintain its "investment grade" rating from risk experts at Moody's.

Financial experts J.P. Morgan also expressed confidence that the grade would be retained by other agencies.

The confirmation of the grade from Moody's indicates they have faith in the new government budget and remain confident that Mexican government bonds and other investments in Mexico are a lower risk than many other emerging market economies.

In a recent report, Moody's said, "Mexican mutual fund investors now number almost two million in more than 500 fixed-income and equity funds ... Mexico can now boast of being the second-largest mutual fund market in Latin America behind Brazil and is one of the fastest growing markets in the world."

A little like credit ratings for individuals, such investment grades for countries indicate the level of risk for investing. They take into account political risk and are used by investors looking to put money into overseas financial markets.

Two other large credit rating agencies, Fitch and S&P, are expected to publish their latest grade for Mexico in the coming days.

Koreans Invited To Invest In Tulum Airport

The Mexican government has invited South Korean companies to invest in the new Tulum airport, reported Mexican newspaper, El Sol de Mexico, yesterday.

Talking at a Latin American-Korean business forum in Seoul, South Korea, Humberto Treviño, Sub-Secretary at the Mexican Secretariat for Communications and Transport, said he hopes Korean companies will confirm their interest in Mexican infrastructure projects, such as the new Riviera Maya international airport in Tulum.

In an open invitation to the audience of South Korean companies, Treviño said, "all the real estate property for the airport is ready for investment, and in four or six weeks we will have the bidding to participate in the project."

He said that the Tulum airport will have an initial capacity of 3 million passengers per year and that the cost of approximately $300 million includes the Tulum airport complex and access routes, adding that financing will be by private investment and concessions, which will be put out to tender soon.

The number of jobs that will created to build the new Tulum airport has not yet been confirmed, but reports suggest the government estimates some 30,000 workers will be required.

Locally, politicians and business people say the airport will provide the "economic trigger" to make the southern part of the Riviera Maya one of the most prosperous zones in the Mexican Caribbean.

Public spending on infrastructure in the area has already had a positive effect on the price of Tulum real estate and overseas real estate developers are investing heavily.

Many real estate opportunities exist and, with the continuing growth of tourism in the Riviera Maya, now is an excellent time to invest in Tulum real estate.

Mexico Investment In Fiber Optic Network

Plans will be published this month for a fiber optic tender in Mexico.

Local and international telecom firms are looking forward to the bidding and the Mexico investment opportunity to expand their markets and provide faster communications.

Gabriela Hernandez, Deputy Communications and Transport Minister, said the government hoped to award the contracts in January.

Mexico's government-owned power company, CFE, owns a 16,777 mile (27,000km) fiber optic network and will put two unused parts of it out to tender.

CFE's infrastructure will give private telecoms companies a leg-up for their Mexico investment and offers a new route for delivering phone, television and internet to Mexican homes and businesses.

Hernandez said CFE's "backbone" will be split into three networks: Pacific, from Baja California to Oaxaca; Center, from Chihuahua to Chiapas; and Gulf, from Nuevo Leon to the Yucatan Peninsula.

The move is expected to drastically improve the speed and reliability of communications and represents a massive opportunity for Mexico investment from the winning bidder.

Quintana Roo Bans Plastic Bags

The Mexican state of Quintana Roo, home of Cancun and the Riviera Maya, last week banned the use of non-biodegradable plastic bags.

The move, which will benefit the Quintana Roo real estate market, follows a similar bag ban in Mexico City in September and will be implemented with a 180 day transition period.

The law was put forward by Mexico's Green Party and unanimously approved by the government of Quintana Roo.

In June this year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) also called for a global ban on plastic bags.

Achim Steiner, executive director of the UNEP, said, "Single use plastic bags ... should be banned or phased out rapidly everywhere. There is simply zero justification for manufacturing them anymore, anywhere."

Visit our main website for information about Quintana Roo real estate.

Mexican Riviera Real Estate Connects With Canada

A new, seasonal non-stop service between Calgary and Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo, in the Mexican Riviera real estate, market was launched last Tuesday.

Canadian airline, WestJet, now connects the Mexican Riviera real estate area with Canada twice per week.

Hugh Dunleavy, WestJet spokesman, said, "A really popular choice for Canadian travellers, Ixtapa offers all the modern amenities of a full-service resort town, whereas the rest of the Zihuatanejo region is packed full of the traditions and flavors of authentic Mexico."

One-way tickets in both directions on direct flights are available from $149, plus taxes and fees, making it easier than ever for Canadians to own and get to their Mexican Riviera real estate.

WestJet also flies non-stop from Calgary to Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico, they will soon fly to Cozumel too.

Visit our destinations pages for more information about Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo and Mexican Riviera real estate.

Whale Of A Time With Puerto Vallarta Real Estate

Owners of Puerto Vallarta real estate are getting ready for a whale of a time. One of the most popular winter-time activities is whale watching, which brings guests face to face with some of the ocean's most fascinating and admirable creatures, the humpback and blue whales.

Puerto Vallarta whale watching tours take guests out to the Pacific Ocean to observe the dozens of Arctic whales that migrate over a thousand miles to the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Being in their natural habitat, the excursions are considered eco-tours and are careful to respect the whales and their space. Even so, guests are still able to come as close as they possibly can to the whales and get a real sense of their behavior out in the wild.

The tours are easily accesible and right on the doorstep of the Puerto Vallarta real estate zone.

A new offer this season from tour operator Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching allows guests to go out on their own private trips. These charters will take up to 25 guests on their very own personalized and customized whale watching experience.

Sara Juarez, a reservations agent for Puerto Vallarta Whale Watching, said, "The private charters allow our customers to fully customize their trip, they can go where they want, when they want, have what they want on board, include snorkeling or whatever they'd like."

Whether you wish to take a private tour or join a group that is already going, the fantastic winter whale watching opportunities represent yet another good reason to invest in Puerto Vallarta real estate.

Another Multinational Mexico Investment

Major multinational, Electrolux, said last week that it is consolidating its entire North American laundry manufacturing into its high-tech facility in Juarez, Mexico. The move represents a massive Mexico investment for the Swedish appliance manufacturer.

Electrolux said production will be discontinued at its Iowa factories in 2010/11 and all operations moved to Mexico.

The new Mexico plant near El Paso is huge: some 1.5 million square feet (135,000 sqm) and 3,000 workers.

It is the biggest industrial building ever in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, according to officials from the Juarez Chamber of Commerce.

Electrolux said it would be business as usual in Iowa until 2011, keeping production and employment levels stable.

When it's time to start cutting jobs, the company said it would work with the city, state and employment agencies to help employees find new work.

Rocky Point Real Estate Has New Airport

A new international airport for the Rocky Point real estate market will be opened on Thursday by President Felipe Calderón.

The terminal at Rocky Point - or Puerto Penasco - on the Gulf of Mexico will open for private and executive flights first and commercial flights to and from Tucson, Phoenix and Hermosillo should start in the New Year.

Officially named the Mar de Cortes International Airport it was constructed by airport operating company Operadora Aeroportuaria Golfo de Cortes, who have invested some $45 million in the project, so far.

Fernando Antillon, airport director, said, "This is a terminal that is going to keep growing."

The airport is about 60 miles (97km) from the U.S. border and 20 miles (32km) south of Puerto Penasco, just 35 minutes by air to Phoenix and one hour to Los Angeles.

The current 1.55 mile (2.5km) runway is capable of handling all types of service and aircraft up to Boeing 757s and similar.

Visit our North Mexico real estate pages for more about Puerto Penasco and Rocky Point real estate.

Mexico Real Estate Facebook Community

Let's face it. If you haven't used Facebook yet it's only a matter of time.

Social media has become the power of the people online.

Now, many live their lives through virtual media. Search engines are are sitting up and listening to what people have to say. Comments, critics, blogs, Tweats and notes on Walls. People are talking.

As part of our latest world-wide-web publicity drive, we've launched a new Facebook page: an online community for Mexico real estate.

Join us If you're interested in property and investments in Mexico. Or if you have Mexico real estate already, we hope you'll join us too.

Read our News, check our Calendar of Events, browse through our stunning Mexico Photo Galleries. If you like the what we've done with the place we hope you can become a Fan before you leave.

Follow us on Facebook here.

Mexico Real Estate Transaction Process

When purchasing property in Mexico you will need to know who is involved in the safe transaction of your investment as the process will differ from your home country. With a little background knowledge it's easy to buy safely in Mexico.

Choosing an established realtor is always the first step, In Mexico there are no obligatory license laws regulating real estate brokerage and sales, however to protect your interests .he Mexican Association of Real Estate Professionals (AMPI) has developed a Code of Ethics that must be followed by all members of the organization.

If you are buying in the restricted zone there will be four parties involved in the real estate transaction to buy safely in Mexico, these are the Real Estate Company, Buyer's Attorney, The Bank and Public Notary.

Once you have chosen your perfect home in Mexico your realtor will write to the seller with the offer, once the seller has accepted this in writing a promissory contract or purchase sale agreement - Contrato de Promesa - is signed by both parties.

A deposit is paid to the seller but your agent will not handle the money, it goes through an attorney. The next step will be the second part of the contract the purchase sales agreement - Contrato de Compraventa - this is a formal contract and both buyer and seller will complete this before a notario publico which must be filed in the Public Registry of Property to be binding on both parties.

Finally in stage three, the notario publico will ensure the terms of the formal sales contract have been fulfilled then proceed to draft the property’s deed - escritura - and schedule a closing meeting for both parties.

American attorneys are not licensed to practice law in Mexico and should not give advice on Mexican Law; however any Mexican attorney can normally handle a real estate transaction from Baja to Cancun.

At Investment Properties Mexico we work with established and experienced Mexican real estate attorneys that offer the most competitive fees and ensure your transaction is in skilled safe hands. We can help you with your real estate transaction and be sure that you buy safely in Mexico.